FTTH Network testing depends on whether the FTTH network is newly installed or already working network. If FTTH network is newly installed, than generally you will get the problem "No Power at ODB"or high loss at ODB,or optical power not receive at ODB. This kind of problem can be solved by the re-splice,correction of splitter,change of patch-cords.
In FTTH network a passive splitter that takes one input and broadcasts it to as many output as per requirements or depend upon the splitter specifications as 2 users cuts the cost of the links substantially by sharing, for example, one expensive laser with up to 32 homes and only requiring an inexpensive laser at each home. However, this architecture changes the methodology of testing the complete installed cable plant and links for proper operation. Of course, individual links are tested as usual, it is the PON coupler that creates the difference.
Each home needs to be connected to the local central office with a single mode fiber, through a local PON splitter. Every home will have a single mode fiber link pulled or strung aerially to the phone company cables running down the street and a network interface device containing fiber optic transmitters and receivers will be installed on the outside of the house. The incoming cable needs to be terminated at the house, tested, connected to the interface and the service tested. For more details READ-FTTH COMPONENT AND GENERAL ARCHITECTURE.
FTTX Testing Details
Testing of FTTH network is similar to other OSP testing but the splitter and WDM add complexity. FTTP PON networks can be more complicated than simple OSP links, with WDM couplers, PON splitters, etc. in a single link, so complete testing can include some components and installation issues not familiar to the usual OSP tech.
PON couplers add high loss, WDM couplers have different performance at different wavelengths and connector reflectance, not a problem in most systems, can be a problem in short links typical in FTTX. Many FTTX systems use APC connectors to reduce reflectance so test cables for both OLTS and OTDR need to have matching connectors otherwise you can get high loss or another testing problems.
However, once installed, users on a live network means testing cannot disrupt service. Thus testing may be as simple as checking power at the ONT on the subscriber’s house with a calibrated fiber optic power meter or just seeing if the ONT has a “green” connection light.
The ONT at the home usually has some intelligence that can be accessed from a remote location,allowing a service tech to initiate a loopback test to verify connections at any user. If only one user has problem, a service tech is then sent there, while if all users are down, the tech is sent to the central office.
As with most fiber optic links, troubleshooting requires knowing the architecture of the system, expected link losses and optical signal levels and typical problems that may be encountered. As always, we emphasize the importance of having documentation on the system before testing and troubleshooting.
FTTH Link Testing Process
A link is a single run of fiber, for example from CO to FDH or from FDH to ONT.The fiber run may have connectors or not, depending on whether the links are spliced or use connectors for terminations. suite a few now use Pre-terminated cables to speed installation. The loss of the PON splitter must be included in the loss budget for the link.
You have to collect full information about FTTH Architectures for core information on PON splitter losses. Here I would like to explain only about splitter testing direction itself.
The installer may need to characterize each fiber with an OTDR, verifying fiber attenuation, termination losses and reflectance and splice quality. The OTDR will also show any bending losses caused during installation.
OTDR traces should be filed for future reference. Optionally, the installer may test splitters at the FDH or the WDMs at the CO. If these are pretested, as they should have been, this way not be necessary or advisable, especially since it is time-consuming and costly. WDMs also require specialized test equipment.
After the link is installed, it needs testing from end to end. the end-to-end loss includes the connectors on each end, the loss of the fiber in each link, the connectors or splices on the splitter and the loss of the splitter itself.
Since the fibers are being used bi-directionally and connector or splice loss may be different in each direction if the fiber core diameter is different, testing in both directions is important too. Special FTTX PON OLTS are available that test the proper wavelengths in each direction, simplifying testing logistics.
BPON Testing
Let’s consider the most complex version of PON testing, BPON. It’s similar to OSP testing but splitter and WDM add complexity as well as more loss and there are three wavelengths in use.
Insertion loss of the cable plant including the loss of the coupler is tested using an optical loss test set (special test sets for FTTH PONs are available that cover all 3 wavelengths of interest.) OTDRs Can be used if length is adequately long, to determine connection reflectance, fiber attenuation and troubleshoot problems.
Many systems will take OTDR traces and store for troubleshooting. The splitters can confuse the OTDR so one generally reverses OTDR test, taking traces from the subscriber upstream.
OTDR Testing PONs
Using an OTDR to test every fiber in an OSP link is traditional, as the OTDR provides a snapshot of the losses in the fiber, locates loss events (connectors, splices and bending losses from improper installation), aids installation troubleshooting and provides trace which can be stored for later troubleshooting and restoration.
FTTH PON networks, the PON splitter causes some unusual traces on OTDRs, with the traces looking totally different when tested from each direction. Here are two traces from an actual system taken in two directions.
OTDR Testing From CO (Central Office)
OTDR Testing From Subscriber
Testing from the subscriber end is easier. The fiber path will show events on just one fiber, like the “X” shown fiber 3, and a high loss for the coupler. Here a 1:4 coupler will have 6 dB of splitting loss plus perhaps 1dB excess loss for a total of 7 dB loss. Using launch and receive cables allow testing connectors on both ends and measuring end to end loss.
Must Read Other FTTH Testing Issues
Network equipment will be tested as the system is turned on or for troubleshooting. Will the network equipment transmit and receive properly? If the cable plant is installed correctly and tests within specifications for loss and reflectance, it should.
Remember that ONTs are generally capable of loop-back testing under remote control. This may mean more sophisticated testing is unnecessary for troubleshooting.
FTTH Safety Issues
FTTH safety issues include all the usual fiber installation issues, for example working with bare fibers, solvents and adhesives. out FTTH networks have several other potential problems. Links carrying AM CATV signals will have high power from FDFA, especially before the splitters.
And links may have multiple equipment transmitting simultaneously. Either case can cause high optical power that can be dangerous to worker’s eyes. Care should be taken to not expose eyes to light from the fibers and to always use microscopes with infrared filters, just in case.
Since systems may have multiple systems transmitting on the same fiber, it is harder to ensure that all systems are turned off for inspection or testing, also.
FTTH network depends upon so many active and passive components.Now we will know in detail how to test the FTTH network. FTTH network architectures also includes expensive components therefore it is mandatory to have good information about it.
FTTH Network Testing Issues Details |
| FTTH Network Testing |
In FTTH network a passive splitter that takes one input and broadcasts it to as many output as per requirements or depend upon the splitter specifications as 2 users cuts the cost of the links substantially by sharing, for example, one expensive laser with up to 32 homes and only requiring an inexpensive laser at each home. However, this architecture changes the methodology of testing the complete installed cable plant and links for proper operation. Of course, individual links are tested as usual, it is the PON coupler that creates the difference.
 |
| FTTH Network Details |
FTTX Testing Details
Testing of FTTH network is similar to other OSP testing but the splitter and WDM add complexity. FTTP PON networks can be more complicated than simple OSP links, with WDM couplers, PON splitters, etc. in a single link, so complete testing can include some components and installation issues not familiar to the usual OSP tech.
PON couplers add high loss, WDM couplers have different performance at different wavelengths and connector reflectance, not a problem in most systems, can be a problem in short links typical in FTTX. Many FTTX systems use APC connectors to reduce reflectance so test cables for both OLTS and OTDR need to have matching connectors otherwise you can get high loss or another testing problems.
You have to collect full information about FTTH Architectures for core information on PON splitter losses. Here I would like to explain only about splitter testing direction itself.
must measure loss with OLTS at all wavelengths and Bi-directionally to check all operational modes - similar
to how the transmission equipment will use the fiber.
OTDR traces should be filed for future reference. Optionally, the installer may test splitters at the FDH or the WDMs at the CO. If these are pretested, as they should have been, this way not be necessary or advisable, especially since it is time-consuming and costly. WDMs also require specialized test equipment.
After the link is installed, it needs testing from end to end. the end-to-end loss includes the connectors on each end, the loss of the fiber in each link, the connectors or splices on the splitter and the loss of the splitter itself.
Since the fibers are being used bi-directionally and connector or splice loss may be different in each direction if the fiber core diameter is different, testing in both directions is important too. Special FTTX PON OLTS are available that test the proper wavelengths in each direction, simplifying testing logistics.
Since PON links are generally short (<20km) chromatic dispersion (CD) and
polarization mode dispersion (PMD) are not concerns. CD and PMD are generally only issues on very long links.
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| FTTH Testing Details |
Tests include each coupler, each link and end-to-end loss. Loss and reflectance are especially important if systems are using an AM video transmission system at 1550 nm, as it has a maximum tolerable loss and reflectance before signals are noticeably affected. Tests need to be done at all three wavelengths of operation: 1310 nm for upstream digital data, 1490 for downstream digital data and 1550 nm for AM video downstream (BPON).
FTTH PON networks, the PON splitter causes some unusual traces on OTDRs, with the traces looking totally different when tested from each direction. Here are two traces from an actual system taken in two directions.
This trace is taken downstream from the CO to the subscriber and trace is taken upstream from the subscriber toward the CO.
In both traces, you can see the large loss of the PON coupler, test seen in the upstream trace at the bottom, on the left side
of the trace. On the downstream
trace, it is the large loss preceding the multiple peaks of the
subscriber fibers, marked with the dashed marker line.
PON systems create problems for OTDRs. Shooting from the input of a PON splitter at the CO, the OTDR sees and adds together the back-scatter traces from all the fibers.
As a result, it becomes impossible to see detail on individual fibers, and an event (connector, splice of bending loss) cannot be easily assigned to any individual fiber unless the table plant is carefully documented at installation.
Consider the “X” shown in the network diagram below. If it was a loss or reflective event, it would show on the OTDR trace, but the operator would not know if if were in fiber 1,2,3 or 4. The only unambiguous part of the OTDR trace shown is the end of fiber 4, the congest fiber, beyond the length of the next longest fiber, #3.
As a result, it becomes impossible to see detail on individual fibers, and an event (connector, splice of bending loss) cannot be easily assigned to any individual fiber unless the table plant is carefully documented at installation.
Consider the “X” shown in the network diagram below. If it was a loss or reflective event, it would show on the OTDR trace, but the operator would not know if if were in fiber 1,2,3 or 4. The only unambiguous part of the OTDR trace shown is the end of fiber 4, the congest fiber, beyond the length of the next longest fiber, #3.
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| OTDR Traces |
It should be noted that FTTH links, because of their short lengths and the use of some high power transmitters, usually have APC connectors or fibers prepared to have minimal reflectance. That can make analyzing downstream OTDR traces very difficult when no reflective end is available to mark the fiber end and there are 32 fibers in the system.
Testing from the subscriber end is easier. The fiber path will show events on just one fiber, like the “X” shown fiber 3, and a high loss for the coupler. Here a 1:4 coupler will have 6 dB of splitting loss plus perhaps 1dB excess loss for a total of 7 dB loss. Using launch and receive cables allow testing connectors on both ends and measuring end to end loss.
Network equipment will be tested as the system is turned on or for troubleshooting. Will the network equipment transmit and receive properly? If the cable plant is installed correctly and tests within specifications for loss and reflectance, it should.
Most FTTH equipment has extensive self-testing capability and that way prove sufficient for most testing. PON couplers may have a second port on the upstream side just for testing or unused downstream connectors may be useful for testing, especially with OTDRs.
The network equipment should be tested for optical power. The transmitter output should be within specifications, as should the receiver input, when tested with a calibrated optical power meter set at the proper wavelength(s). If testing is done while all three systems are operating at their respective wavelengths, a power meter with wavelength selective input is required. Power at the receiver is critical.
Too low and the signal-to-noise ratio will be too low; too high and the receiver will saturate. Both conditions will cause transmission errors. High power is not uncommon, so attenuators may be used in these links to reduce power to acceptable levels.
Data transfer testing with a protocol analyzer is the final
test. It will be done
using specific protocol testers for the data formats being transmitted. Personnel doing these tests are
probably got the same that test the cable plant as each have specific
training and test equipment needs.
FTTH safety issues include all the usual fiber installation issues, for example working with bare fibers, solvents and adhesives. out FTTH networks have several other potential problems. Links carrying AM CATV signals will have high power from FDFA, especially before the splitters.
And links may have multiple equipment transmitting simultaneously. Either case can cause high optical power that can be dangerous to worker’s eyes. Care should be taken to not expose eyes to light from the fibers and to always use microscopes with infrared filters, just in case.
Since systems may have multiple systems transmitting on the same fiber, it is harder to ensure that all systems are turned off for inspection or testing, also.
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